Assistant Ranger (Coastal West)

The Coastal West Team of the Dorset Countryside Ranger Service operates within the coastal corridor in the Districts of West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland. The coast is internationally famous for its unique landscape and wildlife. Most of it is a World Heritage Site, most falls within the Dorset AONB and most is a Heritage Coast. The Team works with a wide range of partners on access and visitor management issues within the project area and a Coastal Corridor Action Plan is currently being developed that will help guide the co-ordination of future coastal management.

A key responsibility of the Team is the management of 70 miles of the South West Coast Path that runs through the project area. Maintenance and improvements to path furniture, including construction of fingerposts, installation of gaps, gates and stiles, path repairs and vegetation control, are all carried out to National Trail standards. The Team undertakes landscape improvements such as dry stone walling and litter picks, including the organisation of the annual Great Dorset Beach Clean, and maintains a network of outdoor interpretation points and people counters.

The Assistant Ranger will be a ‘front line’ member of staff and will have day to day contact with members of the public, landowners, user groups, pressure groups and partners, and will be expected to be a source of information and advice. He/she will supervise an Apprentice Ranger on a day to day basis and volunteers and volunteer groups as they arise.

The successful candidate will hold a relevant qualification in countryside management and have excellent practical countryside management skills. They will have relevant practical experience with a countryside management organisation in either a paid or voluntary capacity and possess a good working knowledge of the natural environment, countryside law, national, regional and local policy. They will have knowledge and experience of word processing and spreadsheets and a high awareness of health and safety issues.

A full driving license is essential and some flexibility will be required to work unsocial hours. The post is subject to CRB clearance.